Lenox 

lzmo 


The  Major's  ace 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #691 


DTIQhDflMQ- 


No.  116. 

THE  MAJOR'S  ACCOUNT  OF  HIMSELF. 


My  Dear  Sir  : 

Having  read  your  little  volume  entitled  "The  Church 
in  the  Army"  with  much  interest  and  sympathy,  and  I 
hope  with  some  profit,  I  readily  meet  your  wishes  in 
sending-  you  a  few  particulars  of  my  own .  experience, 
witli  a  humble  hope  they  may  in  some  feeble  degree 
awaken  in  others  the  same  feelings  I  derived  from  the 
perusal  of  what  you  have  already  published.  Indeed, 
in  this  point  of  view  [  consider  it  a  duty,  no  less  than  a 
privilege,  to  place  at  your  disposal  whatever  may  by 
any  means  facilitate  your  carrying  on  what  you  have 
so  efficiently  begun. 

It  pleased  God  that  I  should  be  placed  for  a  short 
time  in  early  }^ears  with  a  pious  relation,  where  I  en- 
joyed the  privilege  of  Christian  example,  and  where,  I 
believe,  favorable,  though  but  slight  impressions  were 
left  on  my  mind.  It  is  true  these  were  not  strong 
enough  to  keep  me  from  evil  in  after  life,  but  I  trust 
they  were  so  far  influential  that  I  was  never  a  scoffer  or 
open  despiser  of  religion.  At  ten  years  of  age  I  was 
taken  from  these  advantages,  and,  unhappily,  they  were 
not  soon  restored  to  me.  At  fifteen  I  joined  the  public 
insti  ution  for  educating  those  who  are  to  be  prepared 
for  commissions  in   the  army.      At  seventeen  I  received 

my  first  appointment,  with  orders  to  join   at .     At 

that  eventful   period  of  youth   I  was  cast  on   the  world 


2  TUB    MAJOR  S    ACCOUNT    OF    UIMSELF. 

and  left  to  myself,  without  the  immediate  restraining 
influence  or  directing  counsel  of  relations  or 'friends, 
and  above  all  with  a  nature  totally  depraved,  without 
any  sense  of  the  wisdom  that  is  from  above,  or  desire  to 
seek  after  and  know  the  will  of  God.  I  can  only  bless 
and  praise  God,  that  when  thus  in  total  darkness,  a 
slave  to  sin  and  Satan,  I  was  not  utterly  consumed  and 
cut  off  in  a  slate  of  impenitence.  I  wholly  neglected 
religion,  and  conformed  to  the  world,  and  if  L  did  not 
run  into  the  same  excesses  as  many  did  I  fear  it  was 
not  any  convictions  of  the,  sinfulness  of  such  courses  in 
the  sight  of  God,  and  the  fear  of  offend  ng  him,  which 
restrained  me,  but  the  desire  of  standing  well  with  my 
fellow-men,  and  of  avoiding  those  inconveniences  and 
sufferings  which  the  depraved  generally  experience 
even  in  this  world. 

I  remained  at two  years  in  total  disregard  of  the 

Sabbath,  rarely,  if  ever,  looking  into  the  word  of  God. 
I  am  persuaded  that  I  was  in  my  conduct  at  this  time 
greatly  influenced  by  those  around  me;  how  imperative, 
therefore,  is  the  duty  of  parents  to  train  up  their  chil- 
dren early  in  the  paths  in  which  they  should  walk  in  after 
life,  and  when  separated  from  them  in  the  way  I  ha\e 
just  related,  how  earnest  should  they  be  in  searching 
out  and  placing  them  within  reach  of  the  society,  exam- 
ple, and  advice  of  decided  Christians. 

At  the  close  of  1810  1  received  orders  to  join  the 
army  in  the  Peninsula,  and,  after  many  vicissitudes, 
and  often  experiencing  the  protecting  mercy  of  God,  we 
reached  Lisbon,  having  been  two  months  on  the  voyage. 
Notwithstanding  these  occurrences  I  remained  insensi- 
ble and  unmindful  of  the  power  and  goodness  of  God, 
and  of  my  own  weak  and  sinful  state.  On  leaving 
England  a  much  esteemed    friend    presented   me  with  a 


THE    MAJOR  S    ACCOUNT    OF    HIMSELF.  3 

Bible;  but,  alas!  with  shame  I  acknowledge  it  re- 
mained neglected  and  unread,  and  was  prized  more  as 
the  gift  of  my  friend  than  as  the  word  of  God.  After 
serving  at  the  siege  of  Badajoz,  in  18.11,  I  was  at  Lisbon, 
and  there  attended  the  funeral  of  an  officer  who  had 
been  wounded  in  the  siege.  The  solemnity  of  the  pro- 
cession and  rmisic  affected  me  much,  depressing  my 
spirits;  and  so  strong  were  these  feelings  that,  on  writ- 
ing to  my  friends  in  England  some  time  after,  I  could 
not  help  noticing  what  I  had  felt  on  that  solemn  occa- 
sion. And  Jet  me  add  that,  though  1  deprecate  formality 
or  ostentation  in  religious  services,  1  cannot  but  believe 
that  in  some  instances  military  funerals  have  had  a 
happy  and  beneficial  influence  on  the  feelings. 

In  January,  1812,  I  served  at  the  siege  of  Ciudad 
Rodrigo,  and,  though  aware  in  the  regular  course  of 
duly  I  should  be  one-third  of  the  duration  of  the  siege 
actively  employed,  I  never  felt  any  apprehension  of  my 
state  toward  God,  or  dread  of  being  instantaneously 
brought  into  his  presence.  Alas!  how  delusive  was 
the  security  I  felt  compared  with  that  which  a  true 
Christian  would  experience,  supported  by  the  assurance 
that  though  the  stroke  of  death  might  suddenly  cut  him 
off,  an  unfading  crown  of  glory  would  be  his  portion  in 
^heaven.  Here  I  cannot  but  notice  one  of  those  remark- 
able instances  of  the  protecting  care  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence which  are,  in  military  life  especially,  experienced 
by  many  who,  alas!  little  think  of  the  hand  to  which 
they  ought  to  be  traced.  A  spent  ball  struck  me  just 
on  the  side  of  my  cocked  hat,  and  immediately  above 
my  temple.  Had  it  struck  me  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
lower  it  would  doubtless  have  been  fatal,  as  there  would 
have  been  nothing  to  lessen  its  force.     As  it  was  it  laid 


4  THE    MAJOR'S    ACCOUNT    01"    HIMSELF. 

me  prostrate,  broke  the  skin,  and   kept  me  confined   till 
the  day  of  the  assault. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  of  1812,  when  detached 
in  a  very  unhealthy  part  of  the  country,  I  was  attacked 
with  violent  fever,  which  made  my  recovery  very  doubt- 
ful ;  but  it  pleased  God  to  spare  me.  On  this  occasion, 
when  the  fever  left  me  and  my  mind  was  sufficiently 
restored  to  reflect  on  the  past,  I  became  fully  sensible  of 
the  dangers  through  which  God  had  brought  me,  and  in 
gratitude  to  him,  and  to  seek  comfort,  which  I  much 
needed  in  my  weak  and  desolate  state  of  mind,  I  began 
to  read  my  Bible;  but  before  I  had  finished  the  Pen- 
tateuch I  became  tired,  and  discontinued  reading  it. 
When  perfectly  restored  I  resumed  my  military  duties, 
and  in  May,  181:J,  moved  with  the  division  of  the 
army  into  Spaih.  In  the  summer  of  this  year  I  served 
with  the  troops  besieging  San  Sebastian,  and  was  se- 
verely wounded  in  the  last  and  successful  assault. 
This  caused  my  removal  to  England  with  other  officers 
for  recovery. 

I  cannot  reflect  now  without  pain  and  bitter  self- 
reproach  on  the  heedlessness  and  insensibility  I  mani- 
fested under  the  circumstances  just  related,  as  regarded 
the  dreadful  consequences  of  entering  the  presence  of 
God  in  a  state  of  sin  and  impenitence.  From  the  na- 
ture of  the  duty  I  was  employed  on,  survival  was  hardly 
probable;  yet  1  could  not  for  a  moment  dare  to  contem- 
plate death,  lest  it  should  in  any  degree  unsettle  or  un- 
fit me  for  a  due  performance  of  my  duty. 

On  my  voyage  home  I  experienced  again  the  protect- 
ing mercy  of  God.  We  encountered  severe  storms, 
were  separated  from  the  convoy,  and  were  many  days 
in  expectation  of  being  driven  on  shore  on  the  enemy's 
coast,  or  of  being  picked   up   by  his  cruisers.      On   my 


THE    MAJORS    ACCOUNT    OF    HIMSELF.  O 

recovery  I  was  again  entered  into  active  service,  but 
my  conduct  was  still  very  sinful,  and  conformed  to  the 
world.  A  brother  officer,  a  professor  of  religion,  joined 
soon  after  me,  and  it  is  now  pleasing  to  remember  that 
I  listened  to  him  with  patience,  preferred  his  society, 
and  on  one  occasion  strenuously  supported  him  when 
opposed  by  others  in  well  doing.  Through  his  instru- 
mentality I  joined  with  those  who  contributed  to  the 
support  of  the  Naval  and  Military  Bible  Society;  but 
all  this  took  place  without  that  constraining  Jove  of 
Christ  which  can  alone  prove  us  renewed  in  heart. 

In  June,  1815,  I  was  ordered  to  join  the  army  in  Bel- 
gium, and  we  quitted  England  on  the  day  of  the  battle 
of  Waterloo;  but,  by  using  every  exertion,  we  joined 
the  troops  on  their  march  to  Paris  the  day  before  they 
invested  it,  and  became  immediately  employed  there. 
Here,  and  during  my  stay  in  France  till  the  autumn  of 
1818,  I  was  placed  in  situations  little  favorable  to  piety 
I  had  the  sorrow,  too,  to  see  my  friend  who  had  been 
stationed  with  me  had  fallen  away  from  his  Christian 
pr6fession  ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  I  was  cheered  in 
witnessing  the  steadfastness  and  consistency  of  another 
officer  who  had  made  a  profession  of  religion  about  the 
same  time  as  the  former.  I  felt  comfort  and  happiness 
in  seeing  the  fidelity  of  a  servant  of  God,  though  [  neg- 
lected to  implore  the  aid  of  that  Spirit  which  can  alone 
turn  a  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways. 

Early  in  1W20,  being  stationed  at  another  post,  I  was 
there,  under  the  divine  blessing,  made  to  feel  the  terrors 
of  the  Lord,  the  extent  and  depth  of  my  own  weakness 
and  depravity,  and  the  unspeakable  riches  of  Christ  in 
binding  up  the  broken-hearted,  and  saving  those  that 
are  lost.  This  change  was  brought  about  by  another 
severe  and  dangerous  illness.     When   in   this  condition 


O  THE    MAJOR  S    ACCOUNT    OF    HIMSELF. 

the  fear  of  God  wrought  upon  me  mightily,  and  on 
recovering  I  earnestly  sought  to  know  his  will.  Truly 
can  I  say  that  in  the  perusal  of  the  word  of  God,  the 
glorious  gospel,  I  rejoiced  exceedingly  in  there  behold- 
ing the  glad  tidings  of  salvation.  I  now  became  earnest 
in  seeking  the  truih  by  attending  the  ministry  of  those 
who  preached  the  gospel  faithfully;  yet  I  was  not  long 
in  discovering  that,  though  the  heart  had  been  touched 
and  the  conscience  awakened,  the  seeds  of  evil  still 
remained,  which  were  constantly  hindering  me  in  the 
path  of  holiness,  and  were  a  perpetual  source  of  dis- 
comfort and  distress  in  the  certain  condemnation  of 
heart  which  followed  the  divine  declarations  against 
iniquity. 

From  this  time  until  the  time  I  loft  England  for 
home,  I  had  much  help  and  enjoyment  in  the  society  of 
the  same  Christian  relative  with  whom  I  had  been 
placed  in  my  youth.  He  greatly  strengthened  me  with 
his  counsel  and  example,  and  through  him  I  was  intro- 
duced to  a  pious  officer  and  his  lady  on  joining  my 
station  abroad.  Here  I  learned  experimentally  tRat 
those  who  desire  to  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  must 
suffer  persecution,  that  the  world  is  at  open  enmity 
Willi  God,  and  that  it  is  incumbent  on  the  followers  of 
Christ  to  come  out  from  the  world  and  be  separate. 
Here,  too,  I  read  several  books  which  conduced  to 
establish  and  settle  my  mind;  among  others,  Watson's 
Apologies  for  the  Bible  and  Christianity,  Beveridge's 
Private.  Thoughts,  and  the  Pilgrim's  Progress.  About 
this  time  I  was  removed  to  a  different  station,  and  al- 
though at  the  time  I  thought  it  a  hardship,  being  out  of 
the  usual  course,  I  have  since  reason  to  bless  God  for  this 
very  occurrence,  for  here  1  became  acquainted  with  many 
pious   persons,   both   officers  and   civilians.     I  attended 


THE    MAJOR  S    ACCOUNT    OF    HIMSELF.  7 

the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  ,  and  we  had  a  weekly 

meeting  for  reading  the  Scriptures.  Becoming  thus 
identified  with  God's  people,  I  could  not  expect  it  would 
be  otherwise  than  that  I  should  experience  such  crosses 
and  trials  as  my  situation  and  calling  exposed  me  to. 
I  was  enabled,  however,  to  cast  my  burden  upon  the 
Lord  by  failh  and  prayer,  and  I  found  "his  grace  suffi- 
cient for  me."  And  by  the  same  grace  T  bless  God 
that  I  continue  till  this  day,  and  desire  to  witness  to 
all  that  the  Lord  is  truly  good  and  gracious  in  all  his 
ways,  and  to  bear  my  humble  testimony  in  saying  that 
"  religion's  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her 
paths  are  peace." 

My  dear  sir, 

Yours,  affectionately, . 


PUBLISHED    BY    THE    SOUTH    CAROLINA    TRACT    SOCIETY. 

Evaua  &  Cogswell,  Printers,  No.  3  Broad  street,  Charleston,  S.  C. 


LIST    OF    TRACTS 

PUBLISHED    BY    THE 


SOUTH    CAROLINA    TRACT    SOCIETY 


No.  of  Number 

Tract.  of  pages 

l..Am  I  Self-Deceived 4 

2. .Have  You ? 12 

3.. The  Sinner's  Friend 20 

4.. The  Act  of  Faith 4 

5..  What    is   it   to   Believe  on 
Christ? 4 

6.  .Dialogue  between  the  Bible 

and  a  Sinner 4 

7.  .Self-Dedication  to  God 4 

8..  Why  Do  We  Sit  Still 4 

9.. Ye  Shall  Not  Surely  Die..  4 

10.  .A  Convenient  .Season 4 

11.. The  Bible  the  Word  of  God  4 

12.. Three  Words 4 

13. .  A  Word  of  Warning 4 

14 .  .Grieving  the  Spirit  of  God  4 

If).. Hinder  Me  Not 4 

16.. The  Soldier's  Pocket  Bible.10 
17.. I  Don't  Like  Professions. .  4 
18.. The  Bible  in  niyTrunk...  4 
19. .How  to  Dispose  of  Care..   4 

20.. The  Way  of  Peace 8 

21.. Quench  Not  the  Spirit....  4 

22.. Fatal  Delusions 4 

23.. The  Sword  of  the  Spirit..   4 

24.  .Procrastination 4 

25.. The  Missionary's  Nephew  4 

26.. Lost  Convictions 4 

27.. Profane  Swearing 4 

28.  .Obstacles  to  Conversion..   4 

29.. The  Spirit  Grieved 4 

30. .Counsel  to  the  Convicted.  4 
31.. Every  Man    the  Friend  or 

the  Enemy  of  Christ 4 

32.  .The  Soldier's  Victory 8 

33.. The  Wrath  to  Come 4 

34.  .What  Are  You  Fit  For?..  8 
35.. Christ   a   Covert    from   the 

Tempest S 

36.. The  Christian   Traveller..   8 
37.  .Napoleon's    Argument    for 
the  Divinity  of  Christ  and 

the  Scriptures 8 

38.. I  Can't  Make  Myself  Differ- 
ent    S 

39.. The    Sinner    his   own    De- 
stroyer   8 


No.  of  Numbtr 

Tract.  of  page* 

40.. The  Infidel's  Creed;  or,The 

Credulity  of  Infidelity 8 

41.. Alarm  to  the  Careless....  8 

42.  .True  Conversion 8 

43.  .The  Christian  Officer 8 

44.. Our  War,  Our  Cause,  and 

Our  Duty 16 

45.. The    Crimean     Hero:    the 

late  Captain  Vicars 12 

46.. The  Muffled  Drum 8 

47.. How   Do   You    Bear  Your 

Trials? 8 

48.  .How  Long  Have  You  Been 

Sick? 12 

49.. Soldier!    Do   You    Believe 

the  Bible? 4 

50.. The  Lone  Roll 4 

51.. Mortally  Wounded 8 

52.. The  Sailor  Lost  and  Found  8 
53..  Captain  Deverell;  or,  From 

Darkness  to  Light 12 

54.. A  Word  from  the  Ladies  of 
the  Soldiers'  Relief  Asso- 
ciation  of  Charleston   to 

the  Soldier 4 

55.. Col.  Gardiner  —  as  a  Man, 

a  Christian,  and  a  Soldier.24 

56.. The  Railway  Guide 16 

57.. The  Confederate  Hero  and 

his* Patriotic   Father. . .  .16 

5S.. The  Sailor's  Home 8 

59.. Kind  Words  to  a  Wounded 

Soldier 8 

60.  .TheEvtMitfulTwelveHours; 

or,  The  Destitution  and 
Wretchedness  of  the 
Drunkard 16 

61 .  .The  Dying  Robber 8 

02.. Do  You  Pray  in  Secret?...  4 
63.. Do  You  Enjoy  Religion  ?. .  4 
64..  I've  Never  Thought  of  Dy- 

ing  So 4 

65.. Why  Sit  Ye  Here  Idle?...  4 

66.. Come  and  Welcome 12 

67.. The  Silly  Fish 4 

68.  .  Why  Yet   Impenitent  ? 4 

69..  Who  Slew  All  These?....  4 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH8.5 


